Nick and I spent the rest of that day together, cruising the city. On the way back to my house I asked that we stop at a small grocery store so that I could pick up a few things. Upon walking in I was greeted by the sight of a pale, drawn man sweeping the floors. “Evenin’,” he greeted as we entered without looking up.
“Hi,” I returned. Nick followed me up and down the aisles, making a general nuisance of himself as I picked out my groceries - not that I minded too terribly. Once I had everything I needed we made our way to the check-out counter. There was already a woman having her many purchases rung up, but I paid her little mind once I noticed who was working the register.
“Dear God,” I whispered frantically. Hadn’t I had enough for one day?
“What now? Jason again?” Nick asked, looking around.
“No...can you hold this stuff? I left my wallet in the car,” I made excuse, starting to turn. I was stopped by the feel of a hand delving into my back pocket.
“Your wallet’s right here,” Nick murmured into my ear. I laughed nervously.
“Oh, right. But I need my...my Chap Stick.” I jerked away as I felt Nick searching again, ramming into the woman in front of me. “Oh, I’m sorry,” I told her, smiling apologetically and turning to hand Nick my groceries. “It’s in the car, I know it is, just pay for this stuff,” I hissed, dumping it into his arms.
“You need it right now?” he asked incredulously. I nodded, practically running for the door. “Carra, wait - cash or charge?”
“Whatever!” I had the door open when-
“Carra?” I’d know that squeaky voice anywhere. ’Damn it all,’ I thought as I slowly turned back. Yes, Nick’s question had gotten the attention of the cashier. I grinned weakly.
“Hi Myra,” I said as I rejoined Nick, secretly wanting him to hide me and wanting to send him to the car all at once. Meeting the love of Brian’s life’s fiance - with Brian - was more than enough for one day. Meeting the girl the fiance was cheating on said love of Brian’s life with was quite another, especially when she was so...the way she was. “How are you?”
Myra rolled her eyes and tossed her hair. “Positively stifling in this crummy place. Eighty-four seventy-two,” she said, adding the last for her customer’s benefit. The woman handed her the money and she scrounged for the change. After it was dispensed she held up a finger. “Hey Will, take the lady’s bags out to her car!” she demanded. The pale man appeared from a nearby aisle and wordlessly loaded the bags into a cart, wheeling them out the door with the woman in tow. As soon as he was out the door Myra rolled her eyes again.
“That’s Will, my charming husband,” she introduced glumly. I tried not to gape at her.
“You’re married?”
“You didn’t know?” she asked evenly. I shook my head as I felt Nick poke me in the back. It was just then that Myra noticed him. Immediately her eyes lit up. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” she almost purred, holding out her hand.
“I’m Nick,” he offered, smiling that thousand-watt grin of his. Myra melted visibly and glanced at me.
“Seems we’ve all landed ourselves great catches, huh?” she teased. Nick laughed. I just smiled.
“Guess so.”
“Speaking of which, have you seen Jason lately?” she quizzed, her voice dropping. I had hoped that she wouldn’t mention him, but then thought myself stupid - after all, that was the only connection Myra and I had.
“Just today, actually,” I answered lightly, hoping that would be the last of it as I felt Nick’s eyes boring into me. On a day like this, though, I should have known better.
“Really? Did he mention me? I haven’t talked to him in days and that bitch of a fiance of his won’t ever put him on the phone when I know he’s there,” she spat, her eyes narrow. Just like earlier that day when things got sticky Nick started coughing. His reaction startled Myra and suddenly her eyes widened. “Oh, Carra, I forgot she’s your cousin, I’m sorry, it’s just-”
“Right, I understand,” I interrupted quickly. This was just horrible. “Not to be completely rude, Myra, but Nick and I have got to drop these off, we have dinner reservations.” Of course it was a lie, but we had to leave. Had to. Nick continued coughing so I took the initiative and smacked him, hard.
“No, I’m the one that’s been rude, I’m sorry,” she apologized again, ringing up my purchases without looking up. Nick finally cleared his throat just as Will wandered back in. He was just the opposite of any sort of man I would have pegged as with Myra. He looked as if his very life essence had long since been drained as he was simply waiting for his time to come, although he couldn’t have been older than me. He watched us with mild curiosity but said nothing. Just then, as if to bring my day to an unneeded climax, Jason swept in. Myra looked up at the sound of the bell, as did everyone else.
“Evenin’, Jason,” Will offered.
“Jason!” Myra cried, eyes wide with adoration.
“Myra, Georgeson...” He looked at Nick and I, pure alarm flashing across his face. Nick started coughing again. “Nick? Carra?”
“Dear God,” I moaned, ready to collapse. Just as quickly as the alarm warped Jason’s features it disappeared into serenity.
“What a coincidence - twice in one day.”
Nick managed to collect himself on his own this time. “Imagine that,” he mused, his pure delight at such madness dripping from his tone. I felt like smacking him just for the hell of it then.
“Been awhile, Jason,” Will stated. Jason looked at him as he probably would have looked at a homeless man - with a grain of pity and an ocean of disgust.
“Well we don’t all have the luxury of time you do, Georgeson.”
“I’m a hard worker, but...I would have a lot less time if I was back in classes,” he said hopefully. Jason laughed.
“I’m working on pulling strings to get you that scholarship, I told you that - Jesus, Georgeson,” he reprimanded jovially. Myra turned to Nick and I.
“Jason is trying to get Will a scholarship to the University of Florida so that he can become a lawyer eventually too - then we can sell this hellhole and really live,” she gushed, but whether she truthfully meant she and Jason or she and Will I wasn’t altogether sure.
“Really?” I asked. Jason nodded.
“Yeah...it’s just taking awhile.” It was the most selfless thing I had ever heard of Jason undertaking...but when I looked into his eyes, I knew immediately he was selling Will a pipe dream. The poor guy wasn’t even smart enough to see that this supposed savior was sleeping with his wife right under his nose. But it wasn’t just Will that was fooled, it was Myra too. Jason needed a reason to come see Myra, and as long as he could keep waving this carrot in front of both of them he could keep getting whatever he wanted from the pair. It made me sick - sicker than anything disturbing I had learned about anyone. Myra had long since forgotten my groceries with Jason’s arrival so I cleared my throat. She snapped back into reality and finished scanning the last few. I paid and said goodbye to all of them, practically dragging Nick out to his car with me. Once we were safely inside he looked at me.
“So do you mean to tell me that-” I slapped my hand over his mouth.
“Nick, you know exactly what’s going on. I don’t want to discuss it.”
“This is too rich,” he sniggered as we pulled into the street.
“I’m glad you’re so amused. Why does none of this ever upset you...?” I almost added, “like it does me”, but thought better of it. Nick shrugged.
“Because that’s life down here. I can see now why you wanted to help Brian win Lily away from that asshole, though.”
I studied him. “I didn’t know about all of this when I set that up.”
“But you knew that Jason was with that Myra chick.”
“Well, yes, but...”
“So you were helping Lily get back at Jason with Brian,” he reasoned.
“No,” I argued, “I wasn’t trying to do anything of the sort. I was just trying to reunite old friends.” It was the truth, at least I thought, but God, it sounded lame. Nick grinned condescendingly.
“Maybe that’s what you’re telling yourself, Carra. Maybe back in Wisconsin that’s what you would have been doing, but you’re in our world now. You’re playing by our rules.” He swerved then, causing me to thud against the car door.
“Aren’t you driving a little carelessly?” I asked as I righted myself, glaring at him. He seemed unmoved.
“It takes two to make an accident,” he told me, then gave me a daring, sexy smile. I didn’t smile back, unable to stop my mind from asking what happened when everyone around you drives with that attitude?
Or furthermore, lives with it?
Chapter 8